SOLID STATE ENERGY STORAGE AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

• US 20150091478A1
• Filed: 10/02/2014
• Published: 04/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Velocity Magnetics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Velocity Magnetics, Inc.
• Inventors: MARZANO, Domenic P.
• Granted Patent: US 10,046,644 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 318/135
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 7/00 Up-and-down hill tracks; Switchbacks
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 13/03 Electric propulsion by linear motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/005 for control of propulsion for vehicles propelled by linear motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/40 using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/22 Constructional details or arrangements of charging converters specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/28 Eddy-current braking
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 31/00 Arrangements for regulating or controlling electric motors not provided for in groups H02P1/00 - H02P5/00, H02P7/00 or H02P21/00 - H02P29/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/16 Mechanical energy storage, e.g. flywheels or pressurised fluids
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

Systems and methods for energy storage and management may be useful for a variety of applications, including launch devices. A system can include a direct current (DC) bus configured to operate within a predetermined range of voltages. The system can also include an array comprising a plurality of ultra-capacitors connected to the DC bus and configured to supply the DC bus with energy. The system can further include an input configured to receive energy from a power grid, wherein the power grid is configured to supply fewer than 250 amps of power. The system can additionally include an output configured to supply more than 250 amps of power. The system can also include a controller configured to control charging and discharging of the array of ultra-capacitors and configured to control the DC bus to remain within the predetermined range of voltages.

Claims

1. An ultra-capacitor based launch system comprising:

an output configured to couple to a load;

a plurality of ultra-capacitor units;

a switch, wherein the switch operatively couples the plurality of ultra-capacitor units to the output;

wherein the plurality of ultra-capacitors receives less than 250 amps of power from a power grid in a continuous connection during operation;

wherein the plurality of ultra-capacitors outputs more than 250 amps of power to the load to launch a vehicle on a closed track via one or more linear synchronous motors;

wherein the ultra-capacitor based launch system is the only source of energy for the vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a recycling system comprising an second energy input for receiving energy from a regenerative braking circuit.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the recycling is accomplished by obtaining power from magnetic braking.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the magnetic braking is eddy current braking utilizing an air gap and a stator.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the output comprises providing about 250 to 4,000+ amps for approximately 2 to 3 seconds.

6. A system, comprising:

a direct current (DC) bus configured to operate within a predetermined range of voltages;

an array comprising a plurality of ultra-capacitors connected to the DC bus and configured to supply the DC bus with energy;

an input configured to receive energy from a power grid, wherein the power grid is configured to supply fewer than 250 amps of power;

an output configured to supply more than 250 amps of power; and

a controller configured to control charging and discharging of the array of ultra-capacitors and configured to control the DC bus to remain within the predetermined range of voltages.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

a three-phase alternating current (AC) power supply,

wherein the AC power supply is configured to be driven by the DC bus.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

a linear synchronous motor, configured to be driven by the AC power supply.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

a vehicle configured to be driven by the linear synchronous motor on a closed track.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the output is configured to provide about 250 to 4,000+ amps for approximately 2 to 3 seconds.

11. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

an energy recovery circuit configured to recycle energy discharged through the output at a second input, wherein the second input is configured to receive power from a regenerative braking circuit.

12. The system of claim 6, wherein the input comprises an active front-end circuit.

13. The system of claim 6, wherein the output comprises a variable frequency drive.

14. A method, comprising:

operating a direct current (DC) bus of a system within a predetermined range of voltages;

supplying the DC bus with energy using an array comprising a plurality of ultra-capacitors connected to the DC bus;

receiving energy from a power grid via an input of the system, wherein the power grid is configured to supply fewer than 250 amps of power;

supplying more than 250 amps of power via an output of the system;

controlling charging and discharging of the array of ultra-capacitors; and

controlling the DC bus to remain within the predetermined range of voltages.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

supplying three-phase alternating current (AC) power driven by the DC bus.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

driving a linear synchronous motor using the AC power.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

driving a vehicle on a closed track using the linear synchronous motor.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein supplying power via the output comprises providing about 250 to 4,000+ amps for approximately 2 to 3 seconds.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

recycling, with an energy recovery circuit, energy discharged through the output at a second input, wherein the second input receives power from a regenerative braking circuit.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the regenerative braking circuit utilizes magnetic braking.